Device for holding keys in locks.



J. A. PRESCOTT, DEVICE FOR HOLDING KEYS IN LOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED 11111 111, 1911.

1,000,194. Patented Aug. 1911.

NES II1IVENYLOR 'A QM-WM UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. PRESCOTT, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING KEYS IN LOCKS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. Pnnsoor'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Holding Keys in Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for holding keys in looks, affording means whereby the key may be temporarily fastened to the shank portion of a knob.

The invention comprises various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

I illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the manner of attaching the device to the shank portion of a knob of a door, and Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the device removed.

Reference now bein had to the details of the drawings by letter, A, A designate two clamping jaws which are pivoted together by means of a pin B. Each jaw is bent preferably forming a semi-cylindrical portion D and the extreme end of each jaw is bent at an angle and are adapted to contact flat against each other when the end jaws are closed. A coiled spring, designated by letter E, is mounted upon said pivotal pin and has an end bearing against the inner face of each jaw, the purpose of which spring is to cause the jaws to be normally held closed,

thus forming a cylindrical outlined closure, conforming to and adapted to frictionally engage the shank portion of a knob. Pivotally mounted upon said pin is a plate F, one end of which is forked and has a con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11, 1911.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

Serial No. 626,571.

caved recess therein which engages underneath the shank portion of the knob, while said plate is bent at an angle at H and has a hook K formed at its lower end adapted to engage the eye of the key.

In applying the device, the jaws are clamped over the shank portion of the knob and the recess in the plate engaging the latter to prevent a lateral swinging movement to the plate and the eye at the end of the key engaging the hook. As the plate will be held from swinging by the shank portion of the knob engaged thereby, the key plate may be prevented from being pushed out of the key hole of the lock and the key will also be held from being turned within the lock, thus forming a secure means for preventing the lock being tampered with.

What I claim to be new is 1. A key holding device comprising jaws pivoted together and adapted to engage the shank portion of a knob, a. plate pivoted to said jaws and having a recess at one end and a hook to engage the eye at the end of the key.

2. A device for holding keys in looks consisting of two spring-pressed jaws hinged together and adapted to engage the shank portion of a knob, a plate pivoted to the jaws and having a forked end with a recess therein for engagement with the shank portion of the knob, said plate being bent at an angle adjacent to its pivotal point and its end bent to form a hook.

3. A device for holding keys in looks consisting of two spring-pressed jaws pivoted together, one jaw having a semi-cylindrical portion and terminating in an end, which ends are designed, when closed, to be parallel and in contact with each other, a plate pivoted to the jaws and having recessed ends to receive the shank portion of the knob, and a hook to engage the eye of a key.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. PRESCOTT.

Witnesses:

FRED. E. BRADSTREET, JOEL D. BEAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

